Father who died in Canada whale boat tragedy worked for Reading-based Microsoft

David Thomas, 50, and his 17-year-old son Stephen, from Swindon, Wiltshire, who died after a whale-watching boat sank off the coast of Canada. (Image: Family Handout/PA Wire)

One of the Britons who died in the whale boat tragedy in Canada worked for a Reading -based software giant.

David Thomas, 50, and his son Stephen, 17, both died when the 65ft-long Leviathan II boat they were in sank off the coast of Vancouver Island on Sunday, October 25.

David was employed by Microsoft UK, which is based in Thames Valley Park.

Five Britons were killed when the boat, which was carrying 27 people, capsized near Tofino, a popular tourist area on Vancouver Island, on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Thomas' wife, Julie, 49, suffered only minor injuries and the couple's other son, Paul, 22, is flying out to be at his mother's bedside.

David, a managing architect at Microsoft, who lived in Swindon, was described by colleagues as a "guru" in IT software.

Michel Van der Bel, Area VP and General Manager for Microsoft UK, said: "We are shocked and saddened by the death of David Thomas, a Microsoft employee, and his son in the tragic boating accident in Canada.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with their family, friends and David’s colleagues and we will be doing everything we can to support them."